10/30/25

Jellyfish- Bellybutton (1990)- ****
Robyn Hitchcock- Eye (1990)- ***1/2

The Mighty Maytones- Madness (1976)- **1/2
(I am not digging this band. The two records I heard sound like what I imagine people who don't like reggae because it all sounds the same think it sounds like--or something like that.)

Richard Ashcroft- Lovin' You (2025)- ***1/2
(Aside from "The Drugs Don't Work," which I think is brilliant, I can't say I am a fan Richard Ashcroft or The Verve. But I did enjoy this new one.)

The Left Banke- There's Gonna Be A Storm: The Complete Recordings, 1966-1969 (1992)- ***1/2
Hawkwind- Of Time & Stars: The Singles, 1970-1974 (2015)- ****
Jethro Tull- Personal Playlist (2025)- ****

The Damned- Damned Damned Damned: Kevin Gray Master (1977/2016)- ****
(The genius of Kevin Gray's work, as opposed to many Mobile Fidelity releases, is that MoFi cleans records up to the point of having the life sucked out of them, which is impressive, I guess. But, Kevin Gray could take a messy session like this and make it sound better, not different or sterile.)











 

10/29/25

The Sons Of Negus- A Psalm Of Praises To The Most High, 1967-1972 (2016)- ****
(Gospel and good vibes for the people of Jamaica.)

The Mighty Maytones- Boat To Zion (1978)- ***
(This band was new to me. Nice record, if a bit light and samey. I did listen to it all, so that's something.)

Bob Dylan- Oh Mercy (1989)- ****
("I don't compromise/And I don't pretend/I don't even care/If I ever see her again/Most of the time." Damn!) 

Jack DeJohnette- Works (1985)- ***1/2
Gang Of Four- Entertainment! (1979)- ****

Nazz- Nazz Nazz: MONO (1969)- ****
(An amazing record! "Under The Ice" has some of the most exciting drumming ever committed to tape, courtesy of Thom Mooney. It's lightning in a bottle, and pretty sure it's a live take. You can hear two flubs. The second is the more obvious, where the bass pedal seems to get stuck and inadvertently hits an extra note on the bass drum during the verse after the instrumental break. They had to let it go so everything else stayed in place.)

Blur- Think Tank (2003)- ****
(I was only a casual Blur fan when this came out, but I loved it then and I love it now. It's never boring and it never sounds like Blur.)

Oasis- Definitely Maybe (1994)- **1/2
(This record is worse than I remembered. It's a cacaphonous mess.)

v/a- Ska Strictly For You (1965)- ***1/2
Descendents- Milo Goes To College (1982)- ****

10/28/25

The Flying Burrito Brothers- The Gilded Palace Of Sin: Kevin Gray Master (1969/2017)- ****

Dion- The Rock 'N' Roll Philosopher (2025)-  ***1/2
(Okay collection of new, fairly pedestrian blues tunes with big name special guests, reimagined classics and a few live cuts. Nothing essential. Decent enough once, but just stick to the originals.)

Nilsson- Aerial Ballet: MONO (1968)- ****

Pink Floyd- Atom Heart Mother (1970)-****
("Fat Old Sun" should have been twice as long and "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" should have been half as long, then we would have had one amazing record. Still love it though.)

David Gilmour- The Luck & Strange Concerts: Personal Edit (2025)- ***1/2
Charlie Rich- I Hear Those Blues: Rich In Stereo (2023)- ****

Blur- S/T (1997)- ****
(I feel a Blur binge coming on.)

Rush- Grace Under Pressure (1984)- ****
(The post-"Moving Pictures" records felt like a personal affront. I was completely off this band--one of my favorite bands--for a long time. But in the wake of Neil Peart's death, and reading Geddy's book, and watching their brilliant documentary, I found a new love for all things Rush. It pays to be a mensch. Both Geddy and Alex are beyond likeable and that made me listen to these synth-heavy records with different ears.)

Los Lobos- By The Light Of The Moon (1987)- ***1/2

10/27/25

Jackie McLean- It's Time (1965)-  ***1/2
Miles Davis- Bitches Brew: Record 2 (1970)- ***1/2
King Pleasure- Golden Days (1960)- ****

John Martyn- Grace & Danger (1980)- ****
(A far cry from Martyn's early Brit-folk days, but I think Phil Collins did a great job as producer.)

The Peppermint Kicks- Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum (2025)- ***1/2

v/a- Jamaican Rare Groove (2023)- ***
(Strange collection of mostly non-reggae tunes. This seems like an attempt to connect R&B, doo wop and soul to early Jamaican music. Good stuff, but not what I wanted.)

The Beatles- Anthologies: Personal Playlist (2025)- ***1/2
(I randomly picked 15 tracks from across the three "Anthology" sets. I never listen to them, but there are a few gems, like "Leave My Kitten Alone" and that early take of "Got To Get You Into My Life," with Ringo smacking that kit like Bonham. But mostly, it just made me want to hear the released versions.)

Robyn Hitchcock- I Often Dream Of Trains (1984)- ****
(This was excellent. I don't recall ever hearing it before.)

The Len Price 3- Misty Medway Magick (2025)- ***1/2
(As expected. I've heard better and I've definitely heard worse. Goes by quickly. Fun record.)

Lou Reed- Transformer (1972)- ****

Jim Ford- Harlan County (1969)- ****
(Jim Ford has influenced many including Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Bobby Womack and Sly Stone. He has been covered by all but Sly in the aformentioned quartet. In a now legendary interview on the Dick Cavett show, Sly Stone said, "Jim Ford was the baddest white man on the planet." Sly then said, "In order to get to it, you gotta go through it." Cavett asked "Who said that? Emerson or Thoreau?" Sly says, "Jimmy Ford!")

Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets- Indoor Safari (2024)- ****
Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska '82: Electric Nebraska (1982/2025)- ****
Steve Earle- Steve's Wonders: Personal Playlist (2025)- ****

10/26/25

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Catch A Fire (1973)- ****
Robert Palmer- Woke Up Laughing- (1998)- ***1/2

King Crimson- Lizard: 2025 David Singleton Elemental Mix (2025)- ***1/2
(I like "Lizard," but it was a disappointment after the first two. I really enjoyed this stripped down mix. Felt like a whole new weird record.)

Galactic- Ya-Ka-May (2010)- ***1/2
Lou Reed- The Blue Mask (1982)- ****
Paul Weller- Wake Up The Nation: Anniversary Remix (2010/2020)- ****

Dion- Kickin' Child: The Lost Album 1965 (2017)- ****
(This one still kills!)

Fountains Of Wayne- S/T (1996)- ****

Motorhead- Overkill (1979)- ****
(My entry into the band! Love at first thrash!)

World Party- Goodbye Jumbo (1990)- ****
Mike Viola & The Candy Butchers- Falling Into Place (1999)- ***1/2

 

10/25/25

Mance Lipscomb- Trouble In Mind (1961)- ****
(This is usually a Sunday morning record, but it will really make any morning. An exquisite guitar player!)

v/a- Listen To The Music: Caltone's Jamaican 45s, 1966-69 (2012)- ***1/2
Sandy Denny- Sandy (1972)- ****

Elton John- Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy: Demos & Live Tracks (1975/2025)- **1/2
(Bonus material is rarely amazing, but these tracks were really underwhelming.)

Bruce Springsteen- The River: Personal Edit (1980/2022)- ****

Mott The Hoople- Mott :Kevin Gray Master (1973/2016)- ****
(The definitive version of this classic!)

Kiss- Dressed To Kiss: Demos/Alternates/Outtakes (1975/2025)- ***1/2
(That was fun...once. I did like the demo of "Burning Up With Fever" more than the released version on Gene's solo record.)

The Candy Butchers- Making Up Time (2006)- ****
The Beatles- Yesterday & Today: Stereo (1966)- ****

Aerosmith- Pump (1989)- ****
(Truly an amazing comeback and a record that still holds up. Sadly, what followed, doesn't hold up as well. But I'd argue there is one brilliant record to be had with songs from "Get A Grip," "Nine Lives," and "Just Push Play.")

The Heartbreakers- L.A.M.F.: The Found '77 Masters (1977/2021)- ****
(While listening to this, it occurred to me that I often play it on a Saturday night, which prompted me to create an off the cuff list for social media.)

10/24/25

The Beatles- Revolver (MONO, 1966/2025)-**** 
Jackie Mittoo- Wishbone (1972)- ***1/2
Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska '82: Electric Nebraska (1982/2025)- ****
The Meters- Cabbage Alley (1972)- ****

Queen- The Works (1984)- ****
(This record was the second worst Queen I had heard when I bought it in '84. Now, it's a favorite.)

Mike Viola- Acousto de Perfecto (2012)- ****
Groundhogs- Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs (1972)- ***1/2

10/23/25

Phil Manzanera & Andy Mackay- AM PM Soho Live (2025)- ***1/2
(I really enjoyed this. With Paul Thompson on drums, it's basically core Roxy, only instrumental, and it sounds like all periods of Roxy, to boot. The only missteps are, oddly, the two Roxy covers, but only because they are sung by Sonia Bernardo. She didn't work for me.)

Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska '82: Electric Nebraska (1982/2025)- ****

Midnight Oil- Head Injuries (1979)- ***
(I think this is the first time I've listened to this record. I came in a few records later. Pretty good, but I think the band got better.)

The Tubs- Cotton Crown (2025)- ****
(Laid off of this for a bit, but it still sounds great, like Richard Thompson fronting Husker Du, or early R.E.M. with balls.)

Bourgeois Tagg- Yoyo (1987)- ****
Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska '82: Nebraska Outtakes (1982/2025)- ***1/2
The Rolling Stones- Now!: MONO (1965)- ****

Bruce Springsteen- Working On A Dream: Personal Edit (2009/2012) - ****
(I know what is wrong with this album. And I understand what long time Bruce fans don't like about it. It's lightweight, and the muddy production does it no favors. But I love pop music, and Bruce evoking Brian Wilson and The Byrds isn't a bad thing. This record deserves a little bit more, especially with a bit of editing.

My Lucky Day
Working On A Dream
What Love Can Do
This Life
Good Eye
Tomorrow Never Knows
Kingdom Of Days
Surprise Surprise
The Last Carnival
The Wrestler)

Midnight Oil- Blue Sky Mining (1990)- ****
(My favorite. Saw them a few times between 1988-1991 and all of those shows were incredible. Been awhile since I listened to them.)

The Damned- Damned Damned Damned (1977)- ****

10/22/25

Caetano Veloso- S/T (1969)- ****

Boz Scaggs- Detour (2025)- **1/2
(Made it through about half. I imagine the second half is exactly like the first. Dullsville.)

Big Star- #1 Record (1972)- ****
v/a-Warner Pop Nuggets, Volume 5: Nice Folks (2016)- ***1/2
Faces- A Nod Is As Good As A Wink....:Kevin Gray Master (1971/2010)- ****
The Heptones-Freedom Line (1971)- ****
Velvet Underground- 1969: Kevin Gray Master (2019)- ****

Craig Taborn, Nels Cline & Marcus Gilmore- Trio Of Bloom (2025)- ***
(This started off with promise. Opening track, "Nightwhistlers" is a killer and I really enjoyed Track 4. But then it lost its way and became aimless and tuneless.)

Colin Blunstone- Ennismore (1972)- ****
(This gets lost in the shadows of "One Year," but it's just as gorgeous)

New York Dolls- 'Cause I Sez So (2009)- ****
Lou Reed- New Sensations (1984)- ****

10/21/25

You Am I- Apollo Bay Music festival, 4/22/06 (2006)- ***1/2
v/a- Arise Rootsman-Jamaica Roots 1965-1983: Disc One (2003)- ***1/2

Steve Kelly- Here's The Thing (2025)-***12
(Really enjoyed this. Soulful, occasionally funky with some great musicians backing Kelly up, including Isaac Eady from Tedeschi-Trucks, Stanton Moore & Robert Mercurio of Galactic and Gabrielle Cavassa. Very sweet cover of "Harvest Moon," as well.)

Todd Rundgren- Nearly Human (1989)- ****

Gary Walker & The Rain- Album No. 1 (1968)-***1/2
(I enjoy this from time to time. Super rare! Featuring a pre-Badfinger Joey Molland and a post-Walker Brothers Gary Leeds, aka Gary Walker.)

The Kinks- Face To Face: MONO (1966)- ****

Billy "Red" Love- Gee...I Wish: The Sun Years, 1951-1954 (2011)- ***
(Exactly what you think an R&B, boogie woogie piano player's records would sound like. I listened to about 10 songs. It was enough.)

Yes-S/T: Kevin Gray Master (1969/2019)- ****
Ian Hunter- Defiance Pt. 2: Fiction (2024)- ****

New York Dolls- 'Cause I Sez So (2009) -****
(Rhino's new reissue is a vast improvement over the original vinyl pressing on Atco, which was one of the worst records I had ever heard. This is a really good record which deserves this new pressing.)

Iggy Pop- The Idiot (1977)- ****
(His best, and one of the best records of all time. On certain days, this could be one of my ten Desert Island Discs.)

Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians- Element Of Light (1986)-****
(His best, I think.)

The Replacements- Let It Be (1984)- ****
The Records- Smashes, Crashes And Near Misses (1988)- ****

10/20/25

Lee "Scratch" Perry- On The Wire (2000) ***1/2
(Wacky!)

The Rolling Stones- Their Satanic Majesties Request: Personal Edit (1967/2025)- ****
Roy Wood & Jeff Lynne- No Answer From The Country: Personal Playlist (2025)- ***
The Police- Reggatta De Blanc (1979)- ****
King Hannibal- Truth (1973)- ***1/2

Descendents- Milo Goes To College (1982)- ****
(Punk classic!)

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts- Troubled Paradise (2025)- ***
(A lot of people have been raving about these guys, and they're fine. What I don't get is, they sound like Bon Jovi to me, and I guarantee those that recommended them to me, are NOT fans of Bon Jovi. I mean, it's so obvious to my ears.)

 

 

T. Rex- The Slider (1972)- ****
(This was my first T. Rex record. I knew "Bang A Gong," but I bought "The Slider" first on 8-track at Happy Tunes on West 8th Street in Greenwich Village. Still my fave.)

The Rolling Stones- Emotional Rescue (1980)- ****
("Some Girls" was a hard act to follow, but time has been kind to this record. I love it whenever I play it, and it has one of my fave Keith tracks.)

 

10/19/25

The Congos- Heart Of The Congos (1977)- ****
v/a- A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco (2025)- ***1/2
Willie Colon- El Malo (1967)- ***1/2

The Last Dinner Party- From The Pyre (2025)- **1/2
(This did not work for me. I loved the debut, which was a fresh hybrid of Siouxsie/Roxy, with a real edge. This record is missing the edge. At times, it sounded more like a Gwen Stefani record. It took until Track 7, "I Hold Your Anger," to get my attention. Not sure, I'll try this again.)

The Black Crowes- The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion (1992)- ****
Paul McCartney & Wings- Band On The Run (1974)- ****

The Beatles- 1970 (Personal Playlist)- ****1/2
(Here it is, if you're interested.
Instant Karma!
Wah-Wah
Every Night
Remember
Beware Of Darkness
Teddy Boy
Beaucoups Of Blues
Mother
Maybe I'm Amazed
Isolation
What Is Life
Junk
All Things Must Pass)

Keith Richards- Talk Is Cheap (1988)- ****
(Better than at least ten Stones records.)

The Rolling Stones- Hackney Diamonds (2023)- ****
(Also better than at least ten Stones records.)




 

10/18/24

The Beatles- A Hard Day's Night (MONO, 1964/2025)- **** 

Miles Kane- Sunlight In The Shadows (2025)- ****
(Even better the second time around. Highly recommended!)

Paul McCartney- Ram (1971) - ****
Tom Petty- Highway Companion (2006)- ****

The Candy Butchers- Hang On Mike (2010)- ****
(I saw Mike Viola play a solo show last Thursday and he knocked me out. I was listening leading up to the show and have been istening to more since the show. His records deserve more attention. Brilliant, funny, sad and emotional.)


Ace Frehley-S/T (1978)- ****
Judas Priest- Angel Of Retribution (2005)- ****
Genesis- ...And Then There Were Three (1978)- ****
10cc- The Original Soundtrack (1975)- ****
Queen- News Of The World (1977)- ****
Ringo Starr- 10: Personal Playlist (2021)- ****
The La's- S/T (1990)- ****

10/17/25

Dr. Michael White- A Song For George Lewis (2000)- ***1/2
Bob Mould- Here We Go Crazy (2025)- ***1/2
Ace Frehley- Frehley's Comet (1987)- ***1/2

Miles Kane- Sunlight In The Shadows (2025)- ****
(This was fun. This sounded like The Black Keys trying to make a T.Rex record. Good stuff on first pass.)

Chrissie Hynde- Duets Special: Sal Edit (2025)- ***
(Nah, even I can't help this record.) 

Mike Viola- Lurch (2007)-

Robin Taylor Zander- RTZ (2025)- ***1/2
(Nice follow-up to the debut, better I think. Still no real home runs, but a pleasant spin.)

Bird Streets- The Escape Artist (2025)-***1/2
(Good, not great. I wanted more from this since Jason Falkner is all over it. A few really nice songs, but again, no real home runs.)

Kiss- Love Gun (1977)- ****
The Replacements- Don't Tell A Soul: Matt Wallace Mix (1989/2019)- ****

10/16/25

Jonathan Richman- Only Frozen Sky Anyway (2025)- ***

v/a- From The Grass Roots Of Jamaica (1969)- ***1/2
(Interesting collection featuring field recordings of unnamed singers and performers covering mento, gospel, junkanoo, work songs, etc.)

D'Angelo- Brown Sugar (1995)- **1/2
(Decided to give this another go after reading all of the tributes and praise in the wake of his passing. I wasn't impressed in 1975, and aside from the excellent title track, my feelings haven't changed. The record is one unchanging groove. It's a bore with few memorable melodies and even fewer tempo changes. I don't get it.)

Chrissie Hynde- Duets Special (2025)- **1/2
(Back In August, I posted how this release looked unlistenable and many readers came at me. "It's Chrissie! That voice!" Well, it's just as I expected. It's a whole lotta nothing. Yes okay, it's listenable. "Dolphins" with Dave Gahan is pretty great, as is the Elvis cover with Mark Lanegan. But some of it, especially the 10cc cover, is truly horrible. I love Chrissie, I really do. But I feel no need to say something is good when it isn't.)

Tame Impala- Deadbeat (2025)- ***1/2
Hollie Cook- Shy Girl (2025)- ***

Psychedelic Furs- Book Of Days (1989)- ***1/2
(A very underrated record.)

iPod on Shuffle:
Lovers In The Backseat- Scissor Sisters
Devotion- Paul Weller
Mean Woman Blues- Elvis Presley
Better Days- The Jayhawks
Heads of Government- Lee "Scratch" Perry
Death Or Glory- The Clash
Can't Let You Go, I Love You So- Alvin "Red" Tyler
Anywhere's Better Than Here- The Replacements
The Jangling Man- Martin Newell w/Andy Partridge
My Wave- Soundgarden
(smell my) Special Sauce- Stanton Moore Trio
Never The Same- Paul Weller

10/15/25

Mulatu Astatke- Mulatu Plays Mulatu (2025)- ****
Wet Leg- Moisturizer (2025)- ****
David Bowie- Black Tie White Noise (1993)- ****
John Cale- Sabotage/Live (1979)- ****
David Bowie- Rykodisc Bonus Tracks: An Original NYCD Compilation (1999)- ****

Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets- Indoor Safari (2024)- ****1/2
(I had a hissy fit over this record because it was being sold as a "new" Nick Lowe record, even though most of it was released years before. But it plays so damn well, I need to get over it. Really fantastic stuff.)

Wilco- A.M. : Kevin Gray Master (1995/2025)- ****

 

10/14/25

iPod on Shuffle:
In The Keyhole- Stanton Moore Trio
Stay With Me Tonight- Dave Edmunds
I Can't Give Everything Away- David Bowie
Sweet Marie- Thin Lizzy
Life Is Just Beginning- The Creation
Searchin'- Harry Nilsson
Pretty Green- The Jam
Spead Your Wings (Instrumental)- Queen

Wings- London Town (1978)-****
Paul McCartney- McCartney II (1980)- ***

Patti Smith- Horses: 50th Anniversary RM Plus Bonus LP (1975/2025)- ****
(Excellent reissue. Great sounding vinyl. Terrific bonus tracks.)

Bryan Ferry- Frantic (2002)- ****
(My second favorite Ferry finally gets a proper vinyl reissue. Great pressing that has an inner sleeve with credits, something originals did not have.)

Tin Machine- S/T (1989)- ****
Robyn Hitchcock- S/T (2017)- ****
v/a- Rockabilly Psychosis & The Garage Disease (1984)-***1/2

Sonny Burns- A Real Cool Cat (2011)- ***
(Nice stuff, but as long as Hank Williams records exist, no need for these sides. Sorry Sonny.)

Danny Ayala- Only Fools Love Again (2025)- ***1/2
(New, sweet solo album from Lemon Twigs multi-instrumentalist and background singer. Good record but it's missing something--two D'Addarios.)

His Lordship- Bored Animal (2025)- ***1/2
Bryan Ferry- Mamouna (1994)- ****

Shrunken Elvis- S/T (2025)- ***
(This was okay. A little too new-agey for my tastes. I was hoping for more Eno/Fripp weirdness.)

John Cale- Cat's Cradle, N.C.: 10/9/97-****
(A revelation! Really interesting acoustic instrumentation- a trio, two names I didn't recognize with Cale- featuring piano, lap steel, banjo and harmonica. Great, fresh way to hear this material.)

Ultravox!- S/T (1977)- ****
Bush Tetras- Rhthm & Paranoia: The Best Of (2021)- ***1/2

Rage Against The Machine- Renegades (2000)- ****
(I know people who not only hate this record, they get really angry over its existence. The sacrilege of rapping over the Stones and MC5 is just too much for them. But they also get angry over all hip hop and heavy metal, so.... 
I love this record, yet I don't like any other RATM records. I do love Tom Morello and what the band stands for, but their records leave me cold. Not this one. This record fires me up!)

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Get Happy! (1980)-****
David Bowie- Rock 'N' Roll Star (2024)- ****

Electric Light Orchestra- Out Of The Blue: Brian's Edit (1977/2025)- ***1/2
(The edit helps, but I still like five other ELO records more.)

Van Halen- II (1979)- ****
(No sophomore slump here. Love this more than the debut.)

10/12/25

Paul Weller- True Meanings (2018)- ****
Bruce Springsteen- Inyo (1995-1997/2025)-  ***1/2
Kaleidoscope- Side Trips (1967)- ****

Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins- Sonny Side Up (1959)- ****
(One of my very faves, maybe Top Ten, if I don't think too hard. Worth the price of admission for Dizzy's vocal on "Sunny Side Of The Street.)

Tammi Terrell- Irresistible (1968)- ****
(Another great non-comp album from Motown. That riff in "Can't Believe You Love Me" is a killer.)

Elvis Costello & The Attractions- Trust (1981)- ****
Dr. John & The Bonnaroo Revue feat. James Booker & James Black- Dallas, 4/11/74- ***1/2

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- S/T (1976)- ****
Dwight Twilley Band- Sincerely (1976)- ****
(This was an excellent, albeit inadvertent, one-two punch.)

Nor-easter 45 Party:
The Sapphires- Who Do You Love
Any Trouble- Second Choice
B.W. Stevenson- My Maria
The Beach Boys- You're So Good To Me
The Four Tops- When She Was My Girl
Cissy Houston- Be My Baby
The Orlons- Everything
Tommy Hunt- I Am A Witness
Abba- Waterloo
Hurricane Smith- Oh Baby, What Would You Say?
Andrew Gold- Lonely Boy
Pure Prairie League- Amie

10/11/25

v/a- Soul Power '68, Disc One (2021)- ****
(Fantastic collection of rare and unreleased rock steady and soul tracks. Will hit Disc Two soon.)

Luiz Bonfa- Uma Prece (1955)- ***1/2

Engelbert Humperdinck- S/T (1969)- ****
(Like Tom Jones, though Tom occasionally rocked a bit, Engelbert's 60's Decca output had some really terrific pop singles. Tom became legit, but poor Dinck just got worse.)

Roy Harper- Stormcock (1971)- ***1/2
The Move- The Best Of...Sides 3 & 4 (1974)- ****

The Doughboys- Running For Covers (2019)- ****1/2
(One of the best of its kind. Smart, sincere and it rocks.)

Eno- Here Come The Warm Jets (1974)- ****
The Beatles- Let It Be: Giles Martin Mix (1970/2021)- ****

Robin Zander- S/T (1993)- ****1/2
(The great, lost solo album. A major showcase for one of the greatest rock vocalists of all time, this record has it all- power pop, rock and roll, country, big ballads, a Divinyls duet, guest vocals from Maria McKee and Stevie Nicks, Nilsson and Neil Young covers, Dr. John on piano--but it also had a label with issues, so there was little to no promotion. Bring this record back!)

Mike Viola- Electro De Perfecto (2011)- ****
Grace Jones- Nightclubbing (1981)-****

10/10/25

Peter Tosh- The Toughest (1996)- ***1/2
The Lijadu Sisters- Horizon Unlimited (1979)- ***1/2

Jeff Tweedy- Twilight Override: Disc Two (2025)- **1/2
(zzzzzzzzzz....THUD.)

The Beatles- Please Please Me (MONO, 1967/2025)-****

The Monkees- Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.: Kevin Gray Stereo Master (1967/2025)- ****
(Another stunning release from Kevin Gray.)

v/a-Play On: A Raspberries Tribute (2025)- ****
(This didn't disappoint. Really solid throughout, but nothing here is better than the originals, though Chris Price's Motown/Girl Group arrangement of "Nobody Knows" is pretty damn great. No real clams, though I could do without Ken Sharp, and the Shoes sucked the life out of "Overnight Sensation.")

Say She She- Cut & Rewind (2025)-****
Pink Floyd- Masters Of Rock (1974)- ****
The Jam - Sound Affects (1980)- ****

Fleetwood Mac- Rumours: Personal Edit (1977/2025)- ****
(Get rid of "Don't Stop," "Oh Daddy" and "Gold Dust Woman" and add "Silver Springs." A much better record!)

Pixies- Surfer Rosa (1988)-****







 

10/9/25

iPod on Shuffle:
Fools Like Me- Geraint Watkins
When The Boys Come Marching Home- David Bowie
Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)- Marvin Gaye
Money Honey- Elvis Presley
Andy's Chest- Lou Reed
All Night Thing- Temple Of The Dog
Blackjack Davey- Taj Mahal
Lucky Guy- Del Amitri
Nothing Lasts Forever- World Party
Lonely Boy Blue- Elvis Costello
Love You To (2022 Stereo Remix)- The Beatles
Lips Like Sugar- Echo & The Bunnymen
Searchin'- Alvin Robinson
September Song- Jeff Lynne
One Beautiful Morning- Bruce Springsteen
The One You Can't Have- The Honeys
Girl (1965 Stereo Mix)- The Beatles
Kingdom Of Izzness- Dr. John
Feeling Lonely- Small Faces
Hard Luck Story- Elton John
You're Lookin' Fine- The Kinks
Never Had A Dream Come True- Stevie Wonder
Let's See Action- Pete Townshend
Rip Off- T. Rex
Hang 'Em High- Jackie Mittoo
Nightingale- Roxy Music
Loisaida- Joe Jackson 

 

Sloan- Based On The Best Seller (2025)- ***1/2
(Three spins, still a good record. But not as good as "Steady." I'm also just a casual fan, so what do I know?)

Ralfi Pagan- With Love (1971)-****
(An amazing slice of Latin soul!)

Adrian Belew- Young Lions (1990)- ****
(This sounded great today. Probably his best.)

Tim Christensen & The Damn Crystals- S/T (2011)- ***1/2
Aerosmith- Draw The Line (1977)- ****
Stanton Moore Trio- Live At WWOZ, Spring Drive 2015 (2015)- ****
Xanadu- O.S.T.: E.L.O. Side (1980)- ****
Television- Marquee Moon: Kevin Gray Master (1977/2024)- ****

10/8/25

Holly Cole- Dark, Dear Heart (1997)- ***
Say She She- Prism (2022)- ***1/2
Galactic And Irma Thomas- Audience With The Queen (2025) -****
David Bowie- Diamond Dogs (1974)- ****

Neal Francis- Return To Zero (2025)- ****
(Really loving this.)

John Cale- Slow Dazzle (1975)- ****1/2
("Paris 1919" is such a rich listen, every single time, I forget just how great this record is. Actually, though Cale is not mainstream enough to be included in that "five great records in a row" game, an argument could be made for "The Academy In Peril," "Paris 1919," "Fear," "Slow Dazzle" and "Helen Of Troy.")

Joe Higgs- Life Of Contradiction (1975)- ****1/2
(I can't stress enough just how great this record is.)

Marvin Gaye- I Want You (1976)-****
Los Straitjackets- Somos (2025)- ****
The Jam- All Mod Cons (1978)-****
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets- Walkabout (2020)- ****
New York Dolls- Too Much Too Soon (1974)- ***1/2

10/7/25

Stanton Moore Trio- Conversations (2014)- ****
(After seeing Stanton Moore playing jam band funk and R&B for 15 years, it blew my mind seeing him in a jazz setting for the first time. Now, his jazz trio is going on ten or so years and it remains a highlight of every New Orleans trip.)

v/a- Jamaica Jazz From Federal Records: Carib Roots, Jazz, Mento, Latin, Merengue & Rhumba 1960-1968 (2019)- ***1/2

Jackie Edwards- Do You Believe In Love (1976)- ***
(Pretty average "lovers rock," though I did enjoy "High Noon.")

Brian Eno- Before And After Science (1977)- ****
David Bowie- Live Nassau Coliseum '76 (2017)- ****
Billy Nicholls- Would You Believe? (1968)- ****

Van Halen- For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)- ****
(Definitely the best of the Van Hagar records.)

The Jaded Hearts Club- You've Always Been Here (2020)- ****
(British supergroup plus pandemic/lockdown covers album equals just what I needed at the time. This whole record rocks, but imagine hearing "Reach Out, I'll Be There" two months into lockdown, June 2020. Cathartic sobbing, and for that, I will always love this album.)

The Beatles- Beatles For Sale (MONO, 1964/2025)- ****
Wilco- Summerteeth (1999)- ****

Motorhead- Ace Of Spades (1980)-****
(Everyone should own this record. Celine Dion fans. Wu-Tang Clan fans. Jascha Heifetz fans. Everyone!)

 

 

10/6/25

Taylor Swift- The Life Of A Showgirl (2025)- ***1/2
(I didn't hate it. More tomorrow.)

Holly Cole Trio- Girl Talk- (1990)- ***
Richard Thompson- Henry The Human Fly (1972)- ***1/2

Neal Francis- Return To Zero (2025)- ****
(I was not expecting this. I was expecting a laid back, hippie R&B set and instead got a retro, disco funk set that reminds me of when rock bands tried to get on the disco bandwagon. Thing is, this really worked! What a blast!)

Betty Harris- Soul Perfection Plus (1998)- ****
Prince- Dirty Mind (1980)- ****

The Plugz- Electrify Me (1979)- ****
(Top Ten punk rock record!)

The Move- Message From The Country (1971)- ****

Bruce Springsteen- Somewhere North Of Nashville (1995/2025)- ****
(Thanks to C In California for the nudge. This hit me harder than my first pass. Great record. Never give up on your legacy artists!)

Elton John- Caribou (1974)- ****
(A fantastic album lost in the wake of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." "I've Seen The Saucers!" A Top 5 John/Taupin song.)

Queen- A Kind Of Magic (1986)- ***1/2

10/5/25

Holly Cole- Dark Moon (2025)- ****

Supertramp- A Butterboy Compilation (2025)- ***1/2
(I made a manageable 60 minute playlist out of Butterboy's three disc compilation. I only know of Supertramp's hits, most of which I don't like. But many friends are fans, so I decided to hear what the fuss was all about. Not bad. Some really good tracks and some that just go on way too long. Still, I enjoyed the listen, especially the song below.)

 

Say She She- Cut & Rewind (2025)- ****
(Just great! Going to be in my Top Ten of 2025.)

v/a- Cameo-Parkway: 1957-1967 (Personal Playlist)- ****
Judy Mowatt- Black Woman (1979)- ****
Irma Thomas- Break-A-Way: The Best Of (1986)- ****

Squeeze- Play (1991)- ****
(My favorite Squeeze record that gets better with age, both its and mine.)

The Black Crowes- By Your Side (1999)- ****
Barbara Lynn- Crazy Cajun Recordings (1998)- ****
Squeeze- East Side Story (1981)- ****

10/4/25

Joan Baez- Farewell, Angelina: Kevin Gray Master (1965/2025)- ***1/2
Bob Dylan- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (original issue with withdrawn tracks, 1963)- ****

Vernon Reid- Hoodoo Telemetry (2025)- **1/2
(I was hoping this wouldn't be exactly how I expected it to be. Alas, it is and it got on my nerves by song 5. Too busy. Too much noodling. Unnecessarily noisy.) 

Dr. John- In The Right Place: AP 45 RPM RM (1973/2023)- ****

Lindisfarne- Back And Fourth (1978)- ***
(Not a great record, but I do love the single, "Run From Home.")

David Bowie- Toy: Unplugged & Somewhat Slighty Electric (2022)- ***1/2

Say She She- Cut & Rewind (2025)- ****
David Bowie- The Heart's Filthy Lesson Mix E.P. (2025)- ***1/2

Nick Lowe- Party Of One (1990)- ****
(I think I say this every time I play it- it's his best record.)

Johnny Thunders- So Alone: Kevin Gray Master (1978/2014)- ****
Leon Russell- S/T: Kevin Gray Master (1970/2017)- ****
(Two of my favorite Saturday night records. Love how Kevin Gray covers all bases. Both of these versions are defintive.)

10/3/25

Max Romeo & The Upsetters- War Ina Babylon: Kevin Gray Master (1976/2025)-  ****
(The best this classic has ever sounded.)

 

 

Alan Hull- Pipedream (1973)- ***1/2
(First time, on a rec from hpunch. Really good stuff. More interesting than Lindisfarne, I think.)

Holly Cole- Dark Moon (2025)- ****
(I haven't listened to Holly Cole in years and I've been a fan from day one. This new record is fantastic! Review coming up on Burning Wood...this week...maybe. Really, listen to it.)

Sparks- Madder! (2025)-****
(I like all four songs on this E.P. more than most of the "Mad!" album.)

Phil Lynott-Solo In Soho (1980)-****
The Cyrkle- Red Rubber Ball (1991)-***1/2

The Who- By Numbers (1975)- ****
(Released 50 years ago today!)

Alan Hull- Squire (1975)- ***1/2
(Another good one. I think better than "Pipedream."

Ted Nugent- S/T: Original Japanese (1975)-****
(Yeah, he's a Hall Of Fame doosh and most every record before and after this is a time waster. But this remains an all timer for me. If you love rock and roll, there's no reason not to love the song below.)

The Replacements- Boink!! (1986)- ****
(My favorite 'Mats record. Well, it's the one I play the most.)

Rockpile- Seconds Of Pleasure (1980)- ****

10/2/25

Arthur Verocai- S/T (1972)- ***1/2
Joao Gilberto- Chega de Saudade (1959)- ****
(Two essentials out of Brazil. Nice start to the day.)

George Harrison- Personal Playlist/Weekend Mix (2025)- ****
Neko Case- Neon Grey Midnight Green (2025)- ***1/2
Sparks- Propaganda (1974)- ****
v/a Bushyard Telegraph (1974-1983)- ***12
The Flame- S/T (1970)- ***1/2

The Everly Brothers- Sing (1967)- ***1/2
(The terrible Procol Harum cover aside, this is a pretty great, almost psych pop record from Phil & Don.)

Bad Brains- Rise (1993)- ***1/2
(New singer. New drummer. More of a trendy 90's metal record than what the Brains are known for, but it's still solid, regardless of the AMG review.)

Queen- A Day At The Races (1976)- ****
Humble Pie- As Safe As Yesterday Is (1969)- ***1/2

10/1/25

Michael Chapman- Fully Qualified Survivor (1970)-****

v/a- I Love The Reggay!: Boss Sounds From Randy's (2021)- ****
(Great set of early-ish rock steady and ska. Actually, it covers a lot of ground stylistically. Highly recommended.)

Steve Howe- Beginnings (1975)- ***1/2
Marcus Hook Roll Band- Tales Of Old Grand-Daddy: Expanded (1973/1994)- ***1/2

Aerosmith- Rocks: Original Japanese (1976)- ****
(I've been wanting to hear this pressing for ages. It delivered. Really massive sound, a bit more bottom than the U.S.. Both this and the original U.S. put the recent remaster to shame.)

Bobby Charles- S/T (1972)- ****
The Soft Boys- A Can Of Bees (1979)- ****
The Who- Who's Next (1971, Doug Sax Master)- ****

Grace Jones- Nightclubbing (1981)-****
(This record is one genius moment after another, starting with the first track, a cover of Flash & The Pan's "Walking In The Rain," speaking of Harry Vanda, and then Sly & Robbie's groove on "Pull Up To The Bumper"---that bass line! Over 40 years, and this remains in regular rotation.)

The Darkness- Dreams On Toast (2025)- ****

9/30/25

John Coltrane- Ole: Kevin Gray Stereo Remaster (1961/2024)- ****
Harry Connick Jr.- Oh My Nola (2007)-  ***1/2
Emerson, Lake & Palmer- S/T (1970)- ****

Paul Westerberg- 49:00 (2008)- ***1/2
(I totally forgot about this. I don't even recall hearing it at the time, probably being put off by the one long 49 minute file. Plus it was pulled very quickly. Some great stuff here, like a lost Replacements record. And as far as I can tell, the last recorded music from Westerberg.)

Duke Ellington • Charlie Mingus • Max Roach- Money Jungle (1962)- ****
(One of my ten favorite jazz records.)

Iggy Pop- CBGBs Festival, 9/27/25 (2025)- ***
(Ig sounds really good. The band, not so much. No fire. It might have been better being there.)

The Easybeats- Absolute Anthology, 1965-1969: Sides 1 & 2 (1980)- ****
Bee Gees- Personal Playlist (2025)- ****
Cheap Trick- The Epic Archive, 1975-1992: Personal Playlist (2020)- ****
The Beatles- Rubber Soul (U.K. MONO, 1967/2025)-****